Ok, all you oven builders!

[Guest]

You have really had me going. Im green with envy ! Here is my twist on the oven building going on here. 4 x 6 x 7 ft walk in cooler. Hopefully with the help of Ted, here in a few weeks I can join the ranks of the large oven gang. Not superlarge (Harleydad) but large none-the-less.

I just want all you oven builders out there (specially you Juan) to know that I am fed up with all of your goody-goody oven building, and Ive been stuck with the same old song and dance oven watching your progress.

Here are a few pics, on the trailer still so they suck, but this is what Im starting with. Let me know what you guys think.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Well I'm not a oven builder almost though i did all the research and parts chasing but, I ended up buying mine done from Ted. I did modify my kitchen oven to the updated electronics. Anyway I want to wish you goodluck and i look forward to seeing your progress and oven completion. If needed I will help out all I can.

Harley

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

That looks like a nice box to start with. If its old enough it may not have the foam insulation in it. These guys can help you get it going, thats for sure. I cheated and bought one. Congrats on the find.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

I just want all you oven builders out there (specially you Juan) to know that I am fed up with all of your goody-goody oven building, and Ive been stuck with the same old song and dance oven watching your progress.

LOL... nice man. If you have any questions or I can be of any assistance, just let me know. I may be trading you some oven help with some LS plastic manifold coating tips over the next couple of weeks.

Good luck and make sure to post up on the progress.

[tedsfab]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

no worries ... i will try to help as much as i can! just ask away

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Thanks all. First off, it is insulated so I dont have to worry about that. Secondly, I cannot be 100% sure about it holding to the 400 degree mark, but on the other hand, I am using a smaller industrial type fridge with a lot less insulation now as an oven which seems to be built in a similar manner, and I can get over 500 degrees out of that easily with the guts from a standard kitchen oven, so, Im hoping for the best.

And Juan. All you need to do is ask. LS intakes are easy, just time consuming, I can step by step ya if you need it. Just let me know.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

new pics, daylight and off trailer. Give me any feedback! all ideas! Whatever comes to ya!

[BClapp]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

wow, i'm jealous.....

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Looks like you already own this cooler box, so I hate to be the one to bust your bubble..........but..........the insulation won't live long because it's the wrong type. It's basically the same material used in an Igloo ice chest. The problem is a technical one and I'll try to keep it as simple as possible. (I think I covered this on the "other" forum in detail, but I'll put it here too)...............

The insulation has to be able to withstand a certain 'delta t'.

Delta T = the temperature difference between the inside of the insulated box, and the surrounding environment (outside, the room it's in or the shop it's in).

A cooler, refridgerator or even a freezer only has to handle a relatively small 'delta t'.

If it's a cooler, your talking about keeping the beer at 35-40 F. on a 100 F. day, so 'delta t' = 60-65 F.

A fridge in the kitchen is keeping food at 40 F. in a heated home (assume 75 F.) for a 'delta t' of 35 F.

A freezer, say one that will keep product at 20 F., setting in a heated space (assume 75 F.), only has to deal with a 'delta t' of 55 F.

None of these 'delta t' numbers are very high, so the insulation doesn't have to do much. And it doesn't have to be much more than the same material that styrofoam coffee cups are made of. And it rarely is either.

Now, take a look at the standard household oven that cooks your favorite frozen pizza at 400 F. in a 75 F. room. The 'delta t' is 325 F. A lot higher temperature difference than with cooling/freezing appliances, and as such, the insulation has to be able to withstand this.

If you're going to convert a cooler or freezer box into an oven, you can plan on replacing the existing insulation by cutting the inside skin loose, or by cutting the outside skin loose OR, you can add new panels to the inside of the box with the correct insulation for the job. This will save you a lot of work, but will probably cost as much as building from scratch, plus you loose the thickness of the panels as useable space in the box.

Again, sorry to rain on your parade, but it's better to be aware of this now, than find out the hard way later. Good luck.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Hey, no parade. Thanks for the info. Good news is the box comes apart very easy, so a change out of insulation probly wont be that hard. And I have 0 dollars in this box so far.

Thanks again, Ill keep you posted

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Just the amount of money you saved on not having to buy the steel to build a box that big will take a big bite out of the investment you'll have to make in insulation and other components. The suckers big when you stand it up.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Hey, CPC-2, do you know of a spray in foam that has the delta-t range I would need? I may start stocking up now and do the change out before I even put it online.

Thanks.

Oh and just one thing. I dont know if it makes a diff or not, but I am just doing this as a hobby and will not be heating this oven on a daily basis, nor will it be hot all day when I do run it. This may buy me SOME time anyway, to get prepared on changing the insulation.

I use a old food prep cooler now with regular oven guts, and so far it has worked OK with as little work as I have been doing so hopefully I can find a way to fix this problem before it becomes one.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Hey, CPC-2, do you know of a spray in foam that has the delta-t range I would need? I may start stocking up now and do the change out before I even put it online.

Thanks.

Oh and just one thing. I dont know if it makes a diff or not, but I am just doing this as a hobby and will not be heating this oven on a daily basis, nor will it be hot all day when I do run it. This may buy me SOME time anyway, to get prepared on changing the insulation.

I use a old food prep cooler now with regular oven guts, and so far it has worked OK with as little work as I have been doing so hopefully I can find a way to fix this problem before it becomes one.

Sorry, no I don't. But again, those products are largely for filling small gaps and cracks, mainly just to stop airflow, not really to insulate as such.

Rockwool is your best bet. It's not that expensive as you might think. I recently bought 4 bundles of about 90 s.f. each for $170

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

I hate to burst your bubble, but that oven won't cut it, man. Why don't you send it to me?

On the other hand, it's gona make an excellent oven. I built two ovens. My next one will be the size you have. 4x6x7. My biggest is 3x3x6 and then a 3x3x3 and a kitchen oven. Got all the bases covered.

[Guest]

Re: Ok, all you oven builders!

Good news, I found a place in town that can blow in loose rockwool for less than 0.75 a square foot. That ought to work? Huh? Probly not as good as putting in sheeting, but for as little work as I do, it will work fine.